Spotlight: Emily Scheidecker, RN, simplifies care for our TP-IAT patients
Every day is different for nurse Emily Scheidecker, RN, BSN. As lead transplant coordinator for our adult total pancreatectomy and islet auto-transplant (TP-IAT) program, she works with people from across the country to prepare them for and help them recover from chronic pancreatitis treatment.
TP-IAT is often the only option to relieve the debilitating pain caused by chronic pancreatitis. It’s a two-stage procedure in which surgeons remove the pancreas and transplant the islet cells normally found in the pancreas into the patient’s liver. Islet cells produce insulin; moving them into the liver helps decrease the risk of the patient developing diabetes after transplant. Our surgeons have performed over 800 TP-IAT procedures, the most of any program worldwide, and we routinely treat people from across the U.S. and beyond.
The complexity of the procedure, including comprehensive evaluation before transplant and ongoing follow-up care afterward, can make it complicated for patients. That’s where Scheidecker comes in. Along with her colleague, Lucas Kozitza, RN, Scheidecker is the point person for our adult patients and their care teams back home. It is Scheidecker’s job to make the care journey – from appointment scheduling to surgery prep to recovery – as seamless and easy to navigate as possible.
We asked Scheidecker about her role as TP-IAT transplant coordinator, and how she helps simplify treatment for the patients in our care.
What led you to become a transplant coordinator?
I worked as a home care nurse for five years before starting in this role with our TP-IAT program. One of my good friends who worked in transplant reached out and told me about the opening for a transplant coordinator. It sounded so interesting. It was all the things I enjoyed about home care: I would get to do direct patient care, along with patient education and care coordination.
How do you assist patients before surgery?
I work with our adult patients, along with my colleague and fellow coordinator, Lucas. We partner with TP-IAT candidates, but also other patients with chronic pancreatitis who have been referred to M Health Fairview for care and may be undergoing a different surgical procedure.
In the beginning, I talk with patients about their health history and provide information on TP-IAT: what the surgery does, what to expect when recovering, typical insurance coverage. I also gather past medical records from their care team back home and review their medical history. We meet as a team with our gastroenterologists, endocrinologists, and surgeons to determine if the person is a good candidate for transplant. If they are, Lucas and I take the lead on scheduling appointments. We’re with them through every step of the evaluation process, making sure they’ve taken the necessary steps leading up to transplant and keeping their care team back home in the loop.
What is your role after transplant?
People usually stay in the hospital for seven to 10 days after TP-IAT. I meet with them a day or two before they leave the hospital to review follow-up information. We ask patients to stay in Minneapolis until we’re able to remove the feeding tube they use after transplant. During that time, we do daily phone or video calls with them, help adjust their insulin doses, and monitor their pain levels. If they’re not local, we also begin preparing for their transition back home.
Our lifelong care makes us stand out among other TP-IAT programs. We see patients for follow up three months, six months, and one year after transplant. Going forward, we’re available to both them and their care team back home for questions and to assist with continued care.
What do you enjoy most about working with our TP-IAT program?
We have a team unlike any other. Our doctors and interdisciplinary team members are so approachable, and everyone is focused on the patient. I’ve enjoyed working with people who are not only at the top of their field, but really enjoy working with the people in our care.
I enjoy that no day is like the one before, and we’re really tailoring care to each patient. We also form these lifelong relationships with people after transplant. I see them when they first come in and some are very sick before transplant. I get to watch as they go on to graduate from college, grow their careers, and achieve their dreams.
What else should people know about your role as coordinator?
We’re jacks of all trades, and people can really consider us like a clinical concierge. Many of our patients have been evaluated in other programs and they say the biggest difference is that they now have one person who they can call directly to get their questions answered, and their family members can also call us with questions. We’re part of a large organization, but I tell our patients: You can call my number, and you’ll get me.
Learn more about our TP-IAT program or call 612-672-7742 to make an appointment.
